Codee Sato was in the same Unification Church Blessing as me: 30,000 couples at Seoul Olympic Stadium. I didn't know her or her husband, but we connected on Facebook, and I enjoyed her outspoken status updates. Codee now belongs to Sean Moon’s World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, a branch of the Unification Church to develop since Reverend Moon’s death in 2012. Hak Ja Han Moon, Reverend Moon's wife and Sean Moon's mother, leads the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, another branch. I asked Codee if she would share a little with me about her faith.

Overview of the Blessing Ceremony that occurred on February 28th, 2018. To learn more about Pastor Hyung Jin Sean Moon's ministry visit: christkingdomgospel.org

What are the most positive aspects of the church ceremonies at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Pennsylvania? What makes you feel drawn to this movement?

The gathering of saints and heroes or patriots of our time, honoring the words of God as responsible defenders of truth and of good people as sovereign families and community. The people there are the true agents of real change and true love for America.

Has Sean Moon inherited the role of Messiah from his father? If so, how was this determined?

Sean Moon inherited the mission of his Father the Messiah. He has the same full authority as the representative of God and the Messiah on Earth. It’s determined by the Principle, by the power of the word, which is the truth that God’s purpose or intention when he created Man was to dwell in man. That man is the lineage of God. God has chosen the Moon seed to engraft mankind to his lineage.

What is the significance of the “rods of iron?” Is this something that was prophesied in The Bible or the Divine Principle?

Yes it’s definitely in the Bible. You can search this yourself.

Does this signify an upcoming time of trial or war?

I believe that this is happening already. Europe has been experiencing a great change in history. The Muslim and Christian worlds are definitely at war at this time and age.

Do you own a gun? If so, can you tell me something about how you chose it and bought it?

Since I live in Europe, I only own a BB Gun. Deadly enough to shoot someone in the eyes who tries to attack me or my family. I’m a member of a shooting club and so I practice twice a week to be a better shooter.

What do your children think about the rods of iron? Do any of them know how to shoot?

The Club is a family membership, so the kids can learn to shoot anytime they want. We do our own self-defense training at home, mainly martial arts.

Did you go to the commitment ceremony? Did your children go?

I’m not sure about the commitment ceremony question here, but if you mean the event, yes I was there with my mom, my husband and my three children.

Were you married at a Unification Church Blessing Ceremony? If so, which one, and are you still together?

1992 and it depends on how you define “still together”. But we are a great team.

How does your partner feel about the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary and their practices? Are most of your friends supportive?

Again, we are a great team and most of my real good friends are open minded about my beliefs or about Unification Sanctuary. But there are also those who questions a lot and have their doubts.

The Unification Church under Reverend Sun Myung Moon had as one of its central tenets the sanctity of eternal marriage. How do you see this playing out in the lives of your children?

You’ll have to ask my children. My children are open to this challenge. But as a family, our first relationship is with God before with our spouses. So our faith in God will remain even if our spouses leaves. Also my family do not believe in divorce.

Recently, I received an email from an artist, “Dick,” which got my attention because I like his work, and I wanted to learn more about his experience in the Unification Church.

I interviewed Dick intending to get some insight into how his religious experience affected his art. I told him I would only take 15 minutes of his time, in part because I was being considerate, and also because I hate transcribing interviews.

Dick had a lot to say. After we spoke for an hour, he continued to elaborate on his answers, sending me pages on his philosophy about religion, art, love, and life. I wanted to do justice to Dick’s deep thoughts, but instead I will share what struck me about his story.

He was a young seeker, a musician and artist who wanted to do something worthwhile with his life. He was in a relationship with a wonderful girl who was a burn survivor, and he was conflicted about his physical reaction to her scars.

Dick studied fine art before joining the Unification Church. Even though he is a successful commercial artist now, he immediately made an apology after describing his work.

“My painting deals with aspects of tension and release, juxtaposition and the emotive power of color. Sorry, I know I'll have to come up with a better artist's statement than that.”

When I asked Dick why he joined the Unification Church, he told me how being on the road as a musician had come to a dead end for him, not fulfilling his desire for a meaningful life. Later he elaborated on this at length. I found his conclusion particularly poignant.

“I no longer believe in the concept of a messiah. I find the very idea preposterous and childish and feel it can be likened to a situation where everyone in the world is blind and someone suddenly shows up who claims he can see so we all just have to trust him. What are the reference points? It doesn't take much imagination to see that everyone else besides the 'messiah' is in a position of severe disadvantage as he holds all the cards and they hold none. It really is a flea's breath away from totalitarianism. May God–if you exist and whatever you are–save us from any 'messiah' past, present or future, Amen. Also the concept of original sin ... how much time do you have? In the history of humanity how much creative and healthy passion has been sublimated into fear, guilt and self loathing all as a result of a human construct based on the primitive speculation and stifling control of a small power elite…

A child falls, gets up and tries again. We are all children in that respect.”